Posted on 02/02/2003 5:56:41 PM PST by FSPress
Here are some to the same arguments that we hear today about guns. This was a plea that helped establish the Gun Control Act of 1967. Stop and Think. Would you have supported this legislation? The person who spoke the words is today a defender of the second amendment.
TWO WEEKS AGO, ROBERT F. KENNEDY BECAME ONE OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS STRUCK DOWN BY AN ASSASSIN'S BULLET. SOMETIME TODAY, IN SOME CITY IN AMERICA, A GUN SHOT WILL RING OUT AND SOMEONE ELSE WILL FALL DEAD OR WOUNDED. THE VICTIM MAY BE A PUBLIC LEADER OR A PRIVATE CITIZEN, BUT, WHOEVER HE IS AND WHEREVER HE FALLS, HE IS NOT ONLY THE VICTIM OF THE GUNMAN....HE IS THE VICTIM OF INDIFFERENCE. THE TRAGEDY IS STARK AND REAL. THE SCARS LAST FOREVER, AND THE ULTIMATE AND SENSELESS HORROR IS THAT SO MUCH OF THIS SLAUGHTER COULD BE PREVENTED. OUR GUN CONTROL LAWS ARE SO LAX THAT ANYONE CAN BUY A WEAPON....THE MENTALLY ILL, THE CRIMINAL, THE BOY TOO YOUNG TO BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNING A DEADLY WEAPON.
THE SOUND OF THAT GUNFIRE WILL ECHO AGAIN...TOMARROW, THE DAY AFTER, AND ALL THE DAYS TO FOLLOW, UNLESS WE ACT!!! 6,300 PEOPLE ARE MURDERED EVERY YEAR WITH FIRE- ARMS IN THESE UNITED STATES. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE AND WHEN IT IS COMPARED WITH THE FAR, FAR LOWER RATES IN OTHER FREE COUNTRIES, IT IS INTOLERABLE.
LIKE MOST AMERICANS, WE SHARE THE CONVICTION THAT STRONGER GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION IS MANDATORY IN THIS TRAGIC SITUATION. WE DO NOT SPEAK FROM IGNORENCE OF FIREARMS. THE FIVE OF US COUNT OURSELVES AMONG THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO RESPECT THE PRIVILEGE OF OWNING GUNS AS SPORTSMEN OR AS PRIVATE COLLECTORS. WE HAVE USED GUNS ALL OUR LIVES BUT THE PROPER USE OF GUNS IN PRIVATE HANDS IS NOT TO KILL PEOPLE.
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THE CONGRESS HAS RECENTLY GIVEN US SOME PROTECTION AGAINST PISTOLS IN THE WRONG HANDS. BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH....NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, THE CARNAGE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THERE IS EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER THE SALE OF RIFLES AND SHOTGUNS.
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS MURDERED BY A RIFLE. MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS MURDERED BY A RIFLE. MEDGAR EVERS WAS MURDERED BY A RIFLE.
NOT LONG AGO, A DEMENTED SNIPER PERCHED ON A TOWER AND KILLED FOURTEEN PEOPLE IN COLD BLOOD......BY RIFLE. FOR MANY LONG MONTHS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS ASKED THE CONGRESS TO PASS SUCH A LAW... BUT THE CONGRESS WILL NOT LISTEN UNLESS YOU, THE VOTER, SPEAKS OUT....UNLESS THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY RISE UP AND DEMAND THAT THE CONGRESS GIVE US A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE GUN CONTROL LAW.
THE LEGISLATION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED. IN THE SENATE, IT IS S-3633. IN THE HOUSE IT IS HR-)7735.
THIS BILL IS NO MYSTERY. LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT IT. IT'S PURPOSE IS SIMPLE AND DIRECT. IT IS NOT TO DEPRIVE THE SPORTSMAN OF HIS HUNTING GUN, THE MARKSMAN OF HIS TARGET RIFLE, NOR WOULD IT DENY TO ANY RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN HIS CONSTI- TUTIONAL RIGHT TO OWN A FIREARM. IT IS TO PREVENT THE MURDER OF AMERICANS. IT CONTAINS THREE SENSIBLE AND REALISTIC RULES.
FIRST, IT WILL OUTLAW THE MAIL ORDER SALES OF SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES. IF THIS LAW WERE IN FORCE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IT MIGHT HAVE STOPPED LEE HARVEY OSWALD FROM
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BUYING THE HIGH-POWERED RIFLE HE USED TO MURDER PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY. EACH YEAR ONE MILLION RIFLES ARE SOLD THROUGH THE MAILS.
SECOND, IT WILL OUTLAW SALES OF SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES TO MINORS - PEOPLE TOO YOUNG TO BEAR THE GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY PLACED IN THE HANDS OF A GUN OWNER.
THIRD, IT WILL OUTLAW SALES OF SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES TO STRANGERS. PEOPLE WHO DRIFT ACROSS STATE LINES, TOO OFTEN WITHOUT CREDENTIALS, BUY THESE WEAPONS, AS EASILY AS THEY BUY CIGARETTES AND CANDY. THE STATES WHICH HAVE STRONG GUN CONTROL LAWS WILL BE PROTECTED.
WE URGE YOU, AS A RESPONSIBLE, SENSIBLE AND CONCERNED CITIZEN, TO WRITE OR WIRE YOUR SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN IMMEDIATELY AND DEMAND THEY SUPPORT THESE BILLS. IN THE SENATE, IT IS BILL S-3633. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IT IS BILL HR-17735.
IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY....IN THE NAME OF CONSCIENCE....FOR THE COMMON SAFETY OF US ALL.... FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA, WE MUST ACT....IT IS UP TO YOU....YOU ALONE AND THE TIME IS NOW.
I gave the .22 to my 12-yr-old, that my dad gave to me when I was twelve.
So far, no deaths. But he can chase a golfball for miles!
SECOND, IT WILL OUTLAW SALES OF SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES TO MINORS - PEOPLE TOO YOUNG TO BEAR THE GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY PLACED IN THE HANDS OF A GUN OWNER.
THIRD, IT WILL OUTLAW SALES OF SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES TO STRANGERS. PEOPLE WHO DRIFT ACROSS STATE LINES, TOO OFTEN WITHOUT CREDENTIALS, BUY THESE WEAPONS, AS EASILY AS THEY BUY CIGARETTES AND CANDY. THE STATES WHICH HAVE STRONG GUN CONTROL LAWS WILL BE PROTECTED.
I see no violations in the proposed laws at the top of this thread.
MOST gun laws today are in violation, but that's not the premise of this thread. As I stated in a subsequent post, I find that restricting of the TYPE of firearm to a citizen to be a violation of the 2nd.
I think you need to look closer at your premises & what you 'see' as gun control.
Of course that is insane.
This thread's point is about purchasing firearms which I think can fall under the commerce clause.
NO....gun purchasing.
If YOU wish to go with him and purchase it for him, I have no problem.
That I ask that you present yourself in person, rather that ordering over the phone (or by computer, or by mail) is NOT unreasonable, IMO.
Deal is, he has to buy the optics, then we negotiate on the firepower.
This is going to be fun!
EVERY,AND I SAY AGAIN, EVERY NATIONAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS REGISTERED EITHER GUNS OR GUN OWNERS, HAS, AT SOME TIME LATER ON, CONFISCATED THE GUNS. I offer, as evidence, Britain, Chicago, Australia, New York, California, Germany, Russia. And we all know how successful THAT has been.
You seem to be entirely oblivious to what is happening right across our border in Canada. The million, (sorry, Billion!) dollar program that turned millions of honest citizens into lawbreakers and felons, overnight.
Neither worship nor (non-slanderous) speech interferes with another's right. Death does. I'm sure the millions at Auschwitz, Treblinka, Bergan-Belsen, Maulthausen, Waco, the WTC, will take comfort that YOU don't think religion is hazardous to your health. History, unfortunately, says otherwise.
If anyone should have a say, it's the parents who have the legal responsibility for their own children. If they wish to buy one for their child, more power to them. But they should be prepare to be culpable for the child's actions. Until 1968, they were. Then, the idea came along that, was ANYTHING really worthy of blame?
Do you think that "children" in South Central LA should be able to walk into a store and purchase a gun?
Yes. Perhaps, just perhaps, since the only ones with guns are the gang-bangers, a little competition might be good for them. The LAPD sure hasn't done a whole lot of good. Maybe a modern version of the Earp Brothers is what's needed.
I didn't say I supported it...just that I didn't see that it violates the 2nd.
The wording of the 2nd says "...Shall Not Be Infringed." I, personally don't see a lot of wiggle room. Not "mostly shall not", or "in large part shall not..."
But in this case, I will take the old "Government is the people" argument and say "it's a good thing" to try and attempt to lessen the cases of children, criminals, and nutcases having guns.... as long as it does not violate the 2nd.
Based on that thinking, shouldn't anyone crazy enough to actually ENLIST in the USMC be barred from ever having a gun? They KNOW that they might have to land on some hostile foreign shore, and shoot people, and they ACTUALLY ASK to go! They spend weeks of training, pushed to the absolute limits of personal ability, so they can kill strangers. And what's worst, an 18 year old has a pistol. Obviously there is some sort of disconnect here.
Please define that. Also include 'low-powered rifle' and 'medium powdered rifle'.
In most places those buzz words, along with 'arsenals', 'semi-autos', 'uzi's', assault weapons, etc. are only used by the anti-gun crowd in their attempts to inflame emotion. Our side should be more selective and precise with words.
Hell, owning hundreds of acres of property does not, either.
you drunk, boy? 'cause you ain't makin' any sense.
SECOND, IT WILL OUTLAW SALES OF SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES TO MINORS - PEOPLE TOO YOUNG TO BEAR THE GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY PLACED IN THE HANDS OF A GUN OWNER.
THIRD, IT WILL OUTLAW SALES OF SHOTGUNS AND RIFLES TO STRANGERS. PEOPLE WHO DRIFT ACROSS STATE LINES, TOO OFTEN WITHOUT CREDENTIALS, BUY THESE WEAPONS, AS EASILY AS THEY BUY CIGARETTES AND CANDY.
I still see no problem with this.
THE STATES WHICH HAVE STRONG GUN CONTROL LAWS WILL BE PROTECTED.
THIS I don't like, but that is an ex post facto and has no bearing on the proposed sales restrictions.
I'm not arguing NY's law. Just the ones at the top of the thread and as to their Constitutionality
Knock yourself out.
I got my father's .22 and my Grandfather's 12 gauge when I turned twelve.
No problem with that.
Obviously.
I am not talking about corrupt governments (that's another topic) but the about the document that outlines ours.
Make your case that "not infringed" is the same as "completely unfettered".
The last good democrat, at least at the national level, was Larry McDonald. The communists murdered him, and the party has been run by totalitarians since then.
There are still plenty of good Republicans at the local levels and even a few in Washington. The party leadership, however, has been taken over by the liberal eastern establishment.
Neither of the parties, at the top, believe in individual Rights or limited government. The last 15 years have proven this beyond any doubt.
You are changing the premise, which was: should kids be able to buy guns themselves? and my answer is yes, unless prohibited by their parents. (In which case the matter is between parent and offspring, not government and anyone.) It is already the case that parents are legally responsible for their children's behavior, and I would support laws that hold parents criminally responsible for underage children, in the case that the children can not be charged.
I said you had to prove that you were you.
That is, of course, the same thing. The only reason you would care that I were me is so you don't accidentally sell a gun to a criminal. Right? Or is there some other motivation other than registration that I cannot discern?
Socratic method.
The Socratic Method is that you ignore the other person's questions and continue to press your own?
BTW...you didn't answer mine. Do you think that "children" in South Central LA should be able to walk into a store and purchase a gun?
As a matter of fact, I did answer that question. I said: "If anyone should have a say, it's the parents who have the legal responsibility for their own children." To be more explicit, yes, I do think children in South Central LA should be able to buy guns, except those in prison. (And the ones who belong there should remain there.) I'm not a racist, if that's what you're getting at, who would disarm black kids in urban areas. Are you? Would you? I differ with both the KKK and the NAACP in that regard. They both think people shouldn't sell guns to blacks. (The former for obvious reasons, the latter because "blacks are inordinately victimized by gun violence, which is why gun sales should be curtailed.") I disagree.
Neither worship nor (non-slanderous) speech interfere's with another's right. Death does.
... which is why murder is criminal. But gun ownership does not equal murder. I own guns, yet they haven't killed anyone by themselves, and I haven't used them to kill anyone. Can you see the difference? People are not gagged going into theaters in order to prevent them from shouting fire. If they were to do so, we all agree they can't cite any First Amendment protection. But they do not face prior restraint. Yet you apparently presume that the only possible reason people would buy a gun is to go on a killing spree (which I think we all can agree there is no Second Amendment right to do) and for this reason you wish to restrict gun purchases?
>>I ask again: then why do you support it? << I didn't say I supported it...just that I didn't see that it violates the 2nd.
On the contrary, you stated: Proving, in person, that you are a responsible law abiding adult citizen before you can purchase a firearm does not, IMO, violated the Constitution and is, indeed, a worthy aim. That's support. I assert that destroying anonymity in gun transaction is a nefarious aim. Period.
That right was found in the "preumbra" that allowed Roe v Wade. You sure you want to go down that road?
Yes. Besides that, it also goes down the Fourth Amendment road, being free from unreasonable searches without a warrant.
Now I am not coming at this from a bleeding-heart frame of mind. I have NO sympathy for criminals and think incarceration should be both longer and tougher. I made my peace with 'vengeance as justice a long time ago.
That's all well and good, but I still resent having to prove my identity to purchase guns, and having them registered with the ATF.
But in this case, I will take the old "Government is the people" argument and say "it's a good thing" to try and attempt to lessen the cases of children, criminals, and nutcases having guns.... as long as it does not violate the 2nd.
In other words, you can't understand the Second Amendment. Any infringement is a violation of the Second.
On another note, from the article: THE STATES WHICH HAVE STRONG GUN CONTROL LAWS WILL BE PROTECTED.
Now, more than 30 years later, the results are in and in fact the opposite is true: those places with the strongest gun control laws have the highest violent crime rates. This fact alone ought to serve as the basis for repealing the lot of them, even if we didn't have a Second Amendment or any kind of PKBA at all. The laws were sold to us as ways to reduce crime and they have miserably failed. Get rid of them!
Immaterial.
I stated further down the thread that you should be able to own anything you wish.
A bazooka's fine with me.
I just don't think that any schmoe should be able to get one online.
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